'THAAD unnecessary when N.K. nuclear threats are eliminated,' says Pres. Park

'THAAD unnecessary when N.K. nuclear threats are eliminated,' says Pres. Park. September. 03, 2016 07:01. by 블라디보스토크=장택동 기자will71@donga.com. In response to China and Russia disapproving the deployment of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in South Korea, President Park Geun-hye stressed on Friday, “At the heart of the matter are North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats. THAAD deployment will become unnecessary once the nuclear threat is removed.” The statement came as the first acknowledgement made by President Park that THAAD will be useless once North Korean nuclear threats are eliminated.”

In a mail interview with the Russian national news network Russia Today, President Park said on Friday, “The deployment of THAAD is a self-defense inevitably decided to secure national safety and protect our people from the North Korean nuclear and missile threats.” She also emphasized that THAAD is by no means a defense system targeting third countries or designed to reap any national profits, and Korea holds no intentions or plans whatsoever to conduct such behaviors. The conditional statement on the deployment of THAAD made by President Park can be interpreted as a preparation for the upcoming summits with the leaders of China and Russia.

"The provocations and threats made by the North no longer remain as a South Korean issue, and is escalating into a serious challenge faced by nations near the Korean Peninsula, including Russia, and the entire East Asian region,” President Park further explained said. "I look forward to openly discuss matters related to the North with Russian President Putin, and strengthen cooperation to solve the North Korean nuclear issues.”

As the first destination during her visits to Russia, China, and Laos, President Park arrived in Vladivostok, Russia on Friday, and will hold a summit talk with President Putin on Saturday.